SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

Norman Red Star, “Wi-Cahpe-Luza”, Swift Star, is a full blooded Native American Indian born into the Sioux Nation in 1955. He was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of crafting art by his Uncle, the famous, RedStarr. Norman began working with art at the age of 16. He started out with crafting bead work, and at the age of 24 he began hand carving sculptures on stone. At the age of 26 he began painting, and at the age of 40 he began crafting pottery.

Norman now specializes in hand crafting the traditional Santa Clara pottery with sgraffito etchings. He gets his ideas from hunting and mother nature herself. He etches animal legends on his pottery. He also accents his pottery with turquoise stones. Norman was quoted as saying: “The finished pottery is always a welcomed sight to see.” Norman signs his pottery as: Wi-Cahpe-Luza, Red Star, followed by a shield symbol, and finally with his census number.

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

In 1981 Victor moved to Santa Clara Pueblo where he observed his aunts (Mary Cain and Mida Tafoya) making pottery. Nonetheless, he considers himself largely self-taught. Naomi was born in Los Angeles (1961) to a non-Indian father and a Santa Clara mother (Patricia Fuentes). She moved to Santa Clara in 1984, met Victor, and they started potting together. She was taught by her brother Lorenzo Fuentes. Victor and Naomi form their pots independently as each has special shapes. Naomi designs the pots but Victor carves them. Then Naomi does the polishing and Victor the firing. Truly a collaborative effort. : They won two First Places at the most recent Picuris show. More information is available in the Fourteen Families book page 236.

SANTA CLARA RED POTTERY

Camille is the daughter of Yolanda Velarde and granddaughter of the late Frances Salazar. She is a talented young artist who has been potting since the age of 7. She signs her work as Camille Moquino, Santa Clara.

3" Tall, 4" at widest point

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Kevin Naranjo

Gary Gutierrez

by Birdell Bourdon

Birdell Bourdon, “Vine Flower”, was born in 1957 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. Birdell was motivated and inspired to continue the long lived family tradition of hand coiling pottery using ancient methods from her Mother, the late Marie Sisneros. Marie was a Professor at the World College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Marie taught Birdell all the fundamentals of pottery making the traditional way of her ancestors. Birdell has been making pottery since the of age 10. The lucrative aspect of the business encouraged Birdell to become an artist.

Birdell specializes in the hand coiled Santa Clara black polished pottery. She gathers clay from the Tribal clay pits within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then, she cleans, mixes hand coils, shapes, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors with saw dust. She coils many different sizes and shapes, like wedding vases and bowls. She also makes melon patterns on her pottery. Birdell is a fine potter whose art is crafted very well. She is presently mentoring her children with the traditional ways of making pottery so they too may have a prolific future artistically if they need to fall back on the business of making pottery. Birdell signs her pottery as: Birdell, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Madeline Naranjo

Madeline E. Naranjo is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1971 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. She was taught the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the methods of her ancient ancestors. She was also influenced by many of her family members to continue a long lived family tradition. Julie Gutierrez also had a big impact on her decision to become an artist.

Madeline specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara, while adding her unique contemporary flare. She gathers her clay from within the grounds of the Santa Clara Pueblo. She cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, etches, polishes and fires her pottery outdoors with horse manure. The designs she chooses to create are those of nature scenes, because of the respect and the love she has for the planet and all that it has to offer.

This piece is signed Madeline Naranjo, SCP.

 Size: 4 1/4" Tall, 5" at widest point

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Dolores Curran

Dolores Curran is one of the finest potters in any Pueblo today. This fact was validated in 1993 when Dolores won "Best of Division" at the Santa Fe Indian Market. This means her pot was judged the finest of all the hundreds of pots entered that year. She is the daughter of the late potter, Ursulita Naranjo and the sister of famed minaturist, Geri Naranjo. She was married to the fine San Juan potter Alvin Curran who passed away in 1999. Dolores most typically works in the "cream on red" style. A little known fact is that she must paint each pot at least three times before the designs achieve the required degree of opacity. More information on Dolores Curran may be found in the Gregory Schaaf Book "Pueblo Indian Pottery - 750 Artist Biographies" on pages 18-19.

This piece is signed Dolores Curran

 Size: 3 5/8" Tall, 4" at widest point

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Dolores Curran

Dolores Curran is one of the finest potters in any Pueblo today. This fact was validated in 1993 when Dolores won "Best of Division" at the Santa Fe Indian Market. This means her pot was judged the finest of all the hundreds of pots entered that year. She is the daughter of the late potter, Ursulita Naranjo and the sister of famed minaturist, Geri Naranjo. She was married to the fine San Juan potter Alvin Curran who passed away in 1999. Dolores most typically works in the "cream on red" style. A little known fact is that she must paint each pot at least three times before the designs achieve the required degree of opacity. More information on Dolores Curran may be found in the Gregory Schaaf Book "Pueblo Indian Pottery - 750 Artist Biographies" on pages 18-19.

This piece is signed Dolores Curran and includes the plate stand shown.

 Size: 4 7/8" Wide, 1 3/16" Deep

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Madeline Naranjo

Madeline E. Naranjo is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1971 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. She was taught the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the methods of her ancient ancestors. She was also influenced by many of her family members to continue a long lived family tradition. Julie Gutierrez also had a big impact on her decision to become an artist.

Madeline specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara, while adding her unique contemporary flare. She gathers her clay from within the grounds of the Santa Clara Pueblo. She cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, etches, polishes and fires her pottery outdoors with horse manure. The designs she chooses to create are those of nature scenes, because of the respect and the love she has for the planet and all that it has to offer.

This piece is signed Madeline Naranjo, SCP.

 Size: 9 3/4" Tall, 7" at widest point

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Sherry Tafoya

Sherry is one of the many potting daughters of well-known potter, Mida Tafoya. Her grandmother was the revered Santa Clara potter Christina Naranjo. Her sisters who pot include Ethel Vigil, Phyllis Tafoya and Cookie Tafoya. Sherry pots in a classically traditional Santa Clara style which is much influenced by her mother. One of her pots is pictured on page 233 of "Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery."

 Size: 9 1/4" Tall, 8" at widest point

Hand Crafted Taos Indian Drum